Container



April 1938. c. H. ROLLASON 2,113,059

CONTAINER Filed May 5, 1935 Patented Apr. 5,1938

UNITED STATES CONTAINER Charles H. Rollason, Wheeling, W. Va., assignor to Wheeling Steel Corporation, Wheeling, W. Va., a corporation of Delaware Application May 5, 1933, Serial No. 669,52!

16 Claims. (Cl. 221-19) This invention relates to containers, and more particularly to containers provided with pouring spouts or the like. It relates still more particularly to sheet metal containers for liquids which are adapted to be poured therefrom. which containers are provided with closure or sealing means.

I preferably utilize a spout member cooperating with a discharge opening in a container and 0 adapted to assume a plurality of positions with respect thereto. I prefer to seal the discharge opening by a cap fitted over the spout member. The spout member may be arranged to assume a pouring position in which it extends generally outwardly and so as to prevent application of the cap and another position in which it extends generally inwardly so that the cap may be applied over it.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a container with a portion cut away;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the upper part of the container shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the top of the container shown in Figure 1, but with the cap removed and the spout member turned to pouring position;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a sealing member.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, a container 2 is provided, which container is preferably of sheet metal and may be of any preferred or well known construction. A top 3 is connected with the body of the container 2 at 4. The connection effected at 4 is preferably more or less permanent in character as it is not contemplated that occasion will arise in use of the container for removal of the entire top 3.

The top 3 has communicating. depressed portions 5 and 6 interconnecting at l. The depressed portion 6 is open outwardly to permit draining. ,A handle member 3 is pivotally connected with-the top 3 in any suitable manner, as by a fastening member 9. The construction thus far described may be of any desired type and no claim is made to such features broadly.

An upstanding portion I0 is connected with the top 3 at H. The upstanding portion III is externally threaded at I2 for the reception of a cap, as will presently be described. The portion III has a discharge opening therethrough, such opening being substantially circular and being bounded by a wall l3 whichcomprises an upper portion H, a lower portion l5 and an intermediate seat portion IS. The opening is preferably eccentric to the portion 10 and has its center positioned generally toward the periphery of the container from the center of such portion.

A spout member I1 is provided. which member has a substantially annular connecting portion l8 and a laterally extending delivery portion IS. The spout member I1 is adapted to be manually inserted into the discharge opening. and to be frictionally held within the wall portion l4. As the wall portion I4 and the portion l8 of the spout member are both of circular cross-section, the spout member may be inserted in any desired angular position and may, if the friction is not too great, be manually rotated to position the delivery portion l9- in any desired direction. Ordinarily if it is desired to rotate the spout member it should first be lifted at least part way out of the discharge opening so as to reduce the friction, the bead 20 on the spout member enabling easy gripping thereof for removal and manipulation by hand.

In Figures 3 and 4 the spout member is shown in delivery'or pouring position, that is to say, with the delivery portion l9 extending generally outwardly or toward the periphery of the container so that upon tilting of the container the contents will be poured out over the lip 2|. In this position the delivery portion ill of the spout member l1 intersects or extends across the threaded portion I2 of the upstanding portion [0, thus making it impossible to screw on the cap. The spout member may, however, be rotated, or atleast partially lifted and turned, through an angle of approximately until it assumes the position indicated by dotted lines at 22 in Figures 1 and 3. In this position all of the spout member is within the confines of the threads l2 so that a cap 23 may be placed over the spout member and screwed down onto the container. The cap 23 preferably has a lower portion 24 of relatively large diameter which is provided with threads 25 which cooperate with the threads l2. Above the portion 24 the cap has an inwardly extending seat portion 26, and above such seat portion a dome portion 21 of reduced diameter. The dome portion provides space for the spout member, and the seat portion 26'is adapted to be provided with a gasket or washer which, when the cap is screwed down, comes into sealing engagement with the top of the upstanding portion Ill of the container. Therefore the container can be closed and sealed about the spout member without removing the spout member. If desired, the spout member may be removed and this will not affect closing and sealing of the container.

When the container is initially filled it may be provided with a sealing member II adapted to fit within the wall portion I! of the discharge opening and having an outwardly extending annular flange 29 adapted to seat on the seat portion It. The sealing member 28 may be forced into place under considerable pressure so as not to be manually removable and so as to make'it virtually impossible to withdraw the contents of the container without puncturing the sealing member. When the full container is opened for the first time the sealing member 28 is punctured and may be removed if desired, the spout member l'l being first lifted out to give access to the sealing member. Also a depression 30 in the top of the upstanding portion III is provided, and when it is desired to withdraw a portion of the contents of the container the metal is punched through at 30 to provide a vent to admit air into the container -to displace the contents discharged therefrom through the discharge opening.

The construction described. provides a cheap and convenient pouring container having a spout facilitating pouring of the contents in a predetermined stream without interference by the rim of the container, and yet also capable of bein closed and sealed independently of the spout. The cap receiving portion is spaced a desirable distance inwardly from the rim of the container, this being possible by reason of the movable spout construction.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the same is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A container comprising a spout member and a cap, the spout member being movable by planar rotation to pouring and non-pouring positions, the cap being attachable to the container only when the spout member is in non-pouring position.

2. A container, comprising -a spout member movable by planar rotation to a plurality of positions with respect thereto, and a cap applicable over the spout member, the parts being so constructed and arranged that the cap may be applied when the spout member is in one of such positions but not when it is in another of such positions.

3. A container having a discharge opening and a cap receiving portion about such opening, a cap applicable to the container at said cap receiving portion, and a spout member connected with said discharge opening movable to one position in which a portion thereof intersects the edge of the cap receiving portion and prevents application of the cap and another position in which application of the cap is permitted.

4. A container, comprising a spout member movable to one position with the delivery portion thereof adjacent the periphery of the container to permit pouring therethrough and another position with said delivery portion turned generally inwardly of the container, and a cap for the container applicable only when the spout member is in the second mentioned position and closing the spout member.

5. A container, comprising a cap receiving portion, a discharge opening eccentric with respect to said cap receiving portion and whose center is positioned generally toward the periphery of the container from the center of the cap receiving portion, a spout member connected with said discharge opening and having a portion movable to pouring position intersecting the edge of the can receiving portion of the container and thereby preventing application of the cap and movable to non-pouring position within the confines of the cap receiving portion to permit application of the cap, and a cap applicable to said cap receiving portion.

6. A container, comprising a discharge opening and a cap receiving portion about such opening, a spout member connected with the discharge opening and movable by planar rotation between operative and inoperative positions, and a cap I applicable to the container at said cap receiving ing, a removable spout member having an eccentric spout portion associated with such opening, and a cap adapted for application to the container over and about the spout member so as to encompass the same when in upright position and at the elevation it occupies when operative.

8. A container, comprising a discharge opening, a removable spout member associated with such opening, and a cap adapted for application to the container about the spout member, the spout member being maintained at all times in upright position and at substantially the same distance from the inside of the container.

9. A container having a portion extending from the surface thereof inwardly toward the inside of the container and having a discharge opening therethrough, a frangible sealing member sealing such opening, a removable spout member applied tosuch opening separately from said frangible sealing member, and a cap covering the spout member.

10. A container having a portion extending from the surface thereof inwardly toward the inside of the container and having a discharge opening therethrough, a frangible sealing member sealing such opening, a removable spout member having a lower substantially annular portion insertable within such opening to lie above said frangible sealing member, and a cap covering the spout member.

11. A container having an outward projection adapted to receive a cap, -a portion of the material of said projection extending inwardly toward the inside of the container and having a discharge opening therethrough, and a spout member movable by planar rotation to operative and inoperative positions associated with such opening and adapted in one position to lie within the area of saidprojection to permit application of a cap over said projection.

12. A container having a portion extending from the surface thereof inwardly toward the inside of the container and having a discharge opening therethrough, a frangible sealing member sealing such opening, a removable spout member associated with such opening, and a cap covering the spout member.

' 13. A container having a portion extending from the surface thereof inwardly toward the inside of the container and having a discharge opening therethrough, a frangible sealing member sealing such opening, a removable spout member having a lower substantially annular portion insertable within such opening, and a cap covering the spout member.

14. A container, comprising a-discharge opening, a removable spout member having an eccentric spout portion and having a connecting portion removably fitted to said discharge opening, and a cap adapted for application to the container over and about the spout member so as 5 to encompass the same when in upright position and at the elevation it occupies when operative.

15. A container, comprising a discharge opening, aremovable spout member having a connecting portion removably fitted to said discharge opening, and a cap adapted for application to the container about the spout member, the spout member being maintained at all times in upright position and at substantially the same distance from the inside of the container.

16. In combination with a can, a spout attached thereto, the upper edge of which is above the top of the can, and a flanged cover for the spout, a portion of which cover bears against and is supported by the top of the can.

CHARLES H. ROLLASON. 

